Former Blue Peter presenter Simon Thomas has posted a heartbreaking family photograph on his Instagram page following his wife Gemma's tragic death. Gemma, 40, died of leukaemia just three days after being diagnosed. Shortly after announcing the news, Simon uploaded a candid picture of him and his wife holding hands with their son, Ethan. "Team Thomas. Three has become two. Heartbroken and suffocating with grief," he wrote in his caption.
Simon Thomas posted a touching picture of his late wife with their son
The Sky Sports anchor, 44, took to Twitter on Saturday to announce the sad news, asking his followers to keep their grief-stricken son in their prayers. Gemma, 40, fell ill with acute myloid leukaemia and died in hospital on Friday evening surrounded by her loved ones. "Today I am crushed with indescribable pain," Simon told his followers. "Just three days after falling ill with Acute Myloid Leukaemia, my dear wife Gemma passed away yesterday evening surrounded by her family and friends." He added: "If you are a prayer - pray for my boy Ethan. 8yrs, precious and in bits. Thank you."
STORY: Simon Thomas left heartbroken after wife dies three days following leukaemia diagnosis
Speaking to The Mirror, Simon revealed that his wife started feeling unwell last weekend and went to the doctor three times before later going to hospital. Of his eight-year-old son’s grief, he shared: "He said he wants Playmobil and other gifts for Christmas, but most of all 'I want mummy back', and I can't help him with that." He went on to explain how his wife's condition deteriorated rapidly within hours before she was rushed to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. She was then moved to the Churchill Hospital in Oxford and begun chemotherapy on Tuesday night. "For the first couple of days she was responding well, but yesterday morning she went downhill very quickly," he added. "She had bleeding on the brain. I was told yesterday morning she would be gone in a few hours."